Tape-measure.



J. T. SWEENEY.

TAPE MEASURE.

APPLICATION I'ILBD nuns, 191a.

1,096,963. Patented May 19,1914

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STAT

S PATEN JOHN '1. SWEENEY, OF KINGSTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO W. G. BROVVNE MFG. ('30., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAPE-MEASURE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingston, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tape-Measures, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to tape measures, and more particularly to a type thereof employing a reel upon which a tape is adapted to be wound.

The main object of the invention is to provide a tape measure wherein the reel will be supported within a casing in a manner to minimize wear upon the casing while at the same time preventing the collapsing of the casing adjacent to the reel.

A further object is to provide a tape measure wherein a rewinding handle is provided, which will act at long leverage while being collapsible within the casing in a man nor to avoid such protuberances as would interfere with the handling and carrying of the device when not in use.

A still further object is to provide a tape measure wherein the rewinding handle when extended will be so held as to prevent any frictional engagement thereof with the outer casing over which it projects, while at the same time permitting said handle to be readily folded within the reel so as to be wholly within the plane of the casing.

A still further object is to provide a tape measure wherein the central portion of the casing has an opening therethrough, and the opposite portions of the reel are conneeted by a reinforcing bar in a manner to stiffen the reel, said bar being also adapted to carry a pivotally supported handle, which when in use is adapted to be unfolded outwardly so as to increase the leverage during rewinding, and when not in use to be folded and retained within said. reinforcing cross bar. And a still further object is to provide a tape measure which may be economically produced, and which will be durable in use.

The invention consists primarily in a tape measure embodying therein a casing, consisting of two annular sections having outer and inner parallel side flanges, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 26, 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914:.

Serial No. 789,825.

latter of which are narrower than the former, whereby a continuous channel is formed about the opening of said casing, an annular reel seated within said casing and closing the space between said inner flanges, said reel having outwardly turned parallel flanges bearing upon said outer casing, whereby said casing is supported adjacent the opening at the center thereof and the cutting of said casing by said reel is prevented, means carried by said reel whereby a flexible tape may be secured thereto, and rewinding means projecting between the inner flanges of said casing sections and connected to said reel; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of a tape measure embodying my invention, a portion of the top casing being broken away and the rewinding handle being shown in the extended position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the rewinding handle folded within the casing and the reel broken away to show the means for attaching the tape thereto; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the reinforcing cross bar and the rewinding handle.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, a metallic casing is provided consisting of two annular sections a and 6, provided with the outer side flanges a and I), said outer side flanges being provided with the extensions a 7) adapted to be crimped or upset in a manner to secure the said sections together. Each section a b is also provided with a central opening as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and adjacent to said opening there is an inner annularfiangc a b considerably shorter than the flanges a b so as to leave a continuous channel within the central opening of the casing. Closing this channel is the reel 0 adapted to seat and revolve upon the flanges (1 6 This construction is old and well known in the art, and it is not my intention to claim such broadly at this time. In practice, all of the parts heretofore described have been made of sheet metal and in use there has been a tendency of the reel 0 to cut the ends of the casing, thus destroying the measure, as this cutting causes rough edges calculated to lacerate the hand of the user.

To avoid the cutting of the casing sections by the reel 0, I provide said reel at each edge thereof with flanges d and 6 extending at substantially right angles thereto, which flanges present an extended bearing surface contacting with said sections a 6 adjacent the flanges 04 6 By this construction, the sections a Z) will be supported adjacent the central opening in a manner which will avoid any possibility of pressure upon said casing resulting in the abrasion or cutting of said sections. Intermediate the flanges (Z and e the reel or ring 0 is provided with a tongue 0, to which the end of the tape f is permanently attached. v

Extending across the opening at the center of the sections a b is a reinforcing channel bargprovided with end tongues g adapted to be inserted through openings in the ring or reel 0 and upset, said bar projecting between the inner channel between the flanges a and 6 thus having a clear field of rotation. I use a channel bar because this is inexpensive to produce, possesses the requisite rigidity, may be conveniently and firmly attached to the reel, and will permit the application thereto of a pivoted rewinding I stem which when not in use may be folded within this channel in a manner to bring all parts thereof within the outer plane of the casing. This handle is shown at ii and comprises a bar having parallel sections it 7L2 connected by an angularly arranged section 72, The section it is pivoted at within the channel bar 9, and the section 72 is provided with an ordinary swivel grip y. This handle is of a length so that when extended it will project adjacent to, or beyond, the periphery of the casing, and thus materially increase the leverage exerted thereby over the old type of reinforcing bar. When the handle is in use and extended, the angular section b will hold the section if projecting across the casing out of engagement therewith, and the section h adjacent the pivot 27 will seat firmly within the channel bar 9 and thus relieve said pivot of all the stresses from said handle, which stresses will be applied by the angular section h of said bar adjacent to the reel 0. The cross bar 9 has in the bottom thereof an opening 9 through which the handle 7' is adapted to pass when the handle it is folded.

The flanges a b are provided with the ordinary opening Z through which the end ofv the tape projects, said projecting end being provided with the usual stop piece 70.

A tape measure made in accordance with my invention possesses the advantages of affording an extended bearing for the reel bot-h against the flanges b and a and against the top and bottom of the casing through the flanges (Z 6. Cutting of the easing is absolutely prevented, and the reel is held so as to cause it to have a free and perfectly true rotation.

The construction of the cross bar 9 is such as to prevent the spreading of theree-l while a suitable housing for the extensible crank handle used for rewinding. The angular construction of this crank handle not only permits it to be folded within the casing when not in use, but also applies the rewinding power at the maximum leverage upon the bar 9 in a manner to prevent any likelihood of this handle being separated from said bar. At the same time when the handle is in use, it is held out of frictional engagement with the casing.

On the smaller sizes of tape measures, the handle it may be dispensed with if desired, although I. prefer to use such upon all sizes.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise vdetails of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is I Y 1. A tape measure embodying thereina casing consisting of two annular sections having outer and inner parallel side flanges, the latter of which are narrower thanthe former, whereby a continuous slot is formed about the center of said casing, an annular reel seated within said casing and closing the slot between said inner flanges, said reel having outwardly turned parallel flanges at the edges thereof bearing upon the casing adjacent the center thereof, whereby the cutting of said casing by said reel is prevented, means carried by said reel whereby a flexi-' ble tape may be secured thereto, and rewinding means projecting between the inner flanges of said casing sections and connected to said reel. g

2. A tape measure embodying therein a casing having a central opening therethrough, a continuous slot extending circumferentially about the wall of said casing adjacent said opening, an annular reel seated within said casing and closing said slot, said reel having outwardly turned parallel flanges at the edges thereof bearing upon the casing adjacent the opening in the center thereof, whereby the cutting of said casing by said reel is prevented, means carried by said reel whereby a flexible tape may be secured thereto, and rewinding means projecting between the inner flanges of said casing sections and connected to said reel.

3. A tape measure embodying therein a casing having a central opening therethrough, the wall about said opening having a continuous slot, a reel rotatably mounted within said casing and closing said slot, means carried by said reel whereby a flexible tape may be secured thereto, a channeled cross bar extending diametrically across said opening and having its ends connected with said reel, and a handle pivotally mounted within said cross bar.

4. A tape measure embodying therein a casing having a central opening there through, the wall about said opening having a continuous slot, a reel formed of a metal strip rotatably mounted within said casing and closing said slot, means carried by said reel whereby a flexible tape may be secured thereto, a channeled cross bar extending diametrically across said openingand provided with integraltongues at the opposite ends whereby it may be attached to said reel, and a handle pivotally mounted within said cross bar.

5. A tape measure embodying therein a casing having a central opening therethrough, the wall about said opening having a continuous slot, a reel rotatably mounted within said casing and closing said slot, means carried by said reel whereby a flexible tape may be secured thereto, a channeled cross bar extending diametrically across said opening and having its ends connected with said reel, and a handle pivotally mounted within said cross bar, said handle comprising a section adapted to be seated within said channeled bar when said handle is unfolded whereby all strains on said handle will be transmitted directly to said cross bar, a section adapted to project over said casing whereby the effective leverage of said handle is increased, and an intermediate section connecting the two first named sections.

6. A tape measure embodying therein a casing having a central opening therethrough, the wall about said opening having a continuous slot, a reel rotatably mounted within said casing and closing said slot, means carried by said reel whereby a flexible tape may be secured thereto, a channeled cross bar extending diametrically across said opening and having its ends connected with said reel, and a handle pivotally mounted within said cross bar, said handle comprising two parallel sections, one of which when said handle is unfolded is adapted to seat within said channeled cross bar and upon the bottom thereof, and the other of which is adapted to project over said casing, and an intermediate section extending at substantially right angles to said first named section and connecting said parallel sections, whereby said handle when unfolded is held out of engagement with said casing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of May, 1913.

JOHN T. SWEENEY.

Witnesses:

C. H. SMITH, L. VAN GAASBEEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

